Tab receptacle

ABSTRACT

A tab receptacle formed from a sheet metal blank and comprising a receptacle portion of generally channel cross section having a base and a pair of longitudinally converging sides, each side being formed with an elongate aperture for receiving a tab between the base and sides of the apertures remote from the base.

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Priority Wladimiro Teagno;

Gianfranco D'Urso, both of Turin, Italy 26,474

Apr. 8, 1970 Jan. 4, I972 AMP Incorporated Harrisburg, Pa.

Apr. 29, 1969 Italy TAB RECEP'IACLE 16 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 339/256 SP H01! 13/12 339/256,

Int. Cl. Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,188,606 6/1965 DeLyon et al. 339/256 SP 3,452,324 6/1969 Fitzpatrick339/256 SP 2,789,278 4/1957 Soreng 339/256 SP Primary ExaminerJosephI-l. McGlynn Attomeys-Curtis, Morris and Safford, William J. Keating,William I-Iintze, Frederick W. Rating, John R. Hopkins, Adrian J. La Rueand Jay L. Seitchik ABSTRACT: A tab receptacle formed from a sheet metalblank and comprising a receptacle portion of generally channel crosssection having a base and a pair of longitudinally converging sides,each side being formed with an elongate aperture for receiving a tabbetween the base and sides of the apertures remote from the base.

meminm 41972 Bic-333L156 SHEET 1 BF 3 PATENTED JAN 41972 SHEET 2 [IF 3PATENTEDJAH 41912 I 3'633'156 SHEET 3 OF 3 TAB RECEPTACLE This inventionrelates to tab receptacles and is particularly concerned with a tabreceptacle for effecting releasable electrical connection to a flat tab.

Many types of such tab receptacles are known and a generally usedtypecomprisesa clip portion of channel cross section integrally formedat one end with a wire connecting portion. Receptacles of this typeareused in vastquantities in electrical equipment and there has beenpersistent economic pressure to reduce their cost without loss ofelectrical and mechanical performance. It has been found that apparentlysmall differences in configuration between receptacles account forsignificantly different performance characteristics. The types mostgenerally used have tended to fall into two distinct groups, both formedfrom flat sheet metal stock. The first group has a channel cross sectionreceptacle with parallel sides which at their free edges are rolled overto define spring arms with edges opposed to the base of the channel, acomplementary tab being a spring fit between the edges and the base. Thesecond group also has a parallel-sided channel section receptacle butthe free edges of the sides are turned over to extend generally parallelwith the channel base. In this second group, the base is generallyslotted longitudinally to define a central longitudinal spring which iselevated to engage a side of the tab and push the tab up against theturned over free edges of the channel sides.

In both groups, the channel base must be of width slightly greater thanthe complementary tab and the flat-sheet metal blank from which thereceptacle is formed must have a developed width at least as great asthe width of the channel base plus the width of each of the channelsides. In order to reduce the material cost of receptacles, because ofthe high cost of material, there have been various attempts to usecheaper material, thinner material, and also to reduce the developedarea of the sheet metal blank from which the receptacle is formed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tab receptacle which'iseconomic in use of material and effective electrically and mechanically.

SUMMARY In a tab receptacle formed from a sheet metal blank andcomprising a receptacle-portion of generally channel cross sectionhaving a base and apair of sides, according to the present invention thesides converge longitudinally of the channel, each side being formedwith an elongate aperture adjacent thebase to define a slot'closed atits ends and extending longitudinally through part of the length of theside so that a tab may be inserted between the divergent ends of thesides to enter the slots between the base and sides of the slots remotefrom the base.

Generally the leading end of a tab is tapered in thickness and thisfacilitates initial engagement of the tab between the base of thereceptacle andthe opposite sides of the slots. Further insertion of thetab effects resilient flexure of the channel to clamp the tab againstthe base of the receptacle. Preferably the sides of the channel convergein arcuate manner and are convex towards each other. The slots in thesides suitably extend into the base laterally and the arcuatelyconvergent sides overlie edge portions of the base which is of generallytriangular form.

The base of the receptacle maybe shaped to act as a spring and to thisend it may be bowed longitudinally in convex manner towards sides of theslots remote from the base or part of the base maybe elevated inrelation to parts adjacent the channel sides. Alternatively, or inaddition, the base portion between the slots may be laterally'bowed. Inone embodiment, a portion of the base centrally disposed between thedivergent ends of the channel sides, is elevated between the channelsides above base portions adjacent and integral with the divergent endsof the channel sides. A similar configuration may be adopted between theconvergent ends of the sides, but preferably the base portion betweenthe slots is elevated in relation to the base portion between theconvergent ends of the sides. The two base portions are disposed onforward and rearward sides of a step extending laterally of the channelin front of the rear ends of the slots.

Ends or comers of the slots are suitably radiused in concave manner, andthe corners remote from the base are suitably recessed in arcuateconcave manneraway from the base.

In a preferred embodiment, portions of thesides at their divergent ends,and forwardly of the slots,-extend in generally parallel manner toprovide a parallel-sided entrance section adapted to engage edges of'aninsertedtaband guide thetab into the slots. The parallel-sided entranceportion also serves to stabilize the receptacle on the tab againstrocking in the plane of the tab. Onfull insertion, the leading end ofthe tab engages rear ends of the slots which act as a stop againstfurther insertion and serve to improve stabilization of the receptacleon the tab.

In a practical embodiment, the receptacle at the convergent ends of thesides is integrally formed with a wire connecting section comprising aU-shaped ferrule. A transition section intermediate the ferrule and thereceptacle is also of U or channel form and of height less than that ofthe receptacle sides, to define between the receptacle sides and limbsof the ferrule U- shaped recesses and a continuous channel form fromend-toend of the receptacle.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with referenceto the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front of an electrical connectortab receptacle secured to an insulated conductor wire;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the connector receptacle of FIG. 1 beforebeing secured to the conductorwire;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section elevation of the connector receptacleof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front end elevation of the connector receptacle of FIGS. 2and 3 viewed from :the right-hand end of .these FIGS.;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the receptacle portion of the connectorreceptacle of FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a flat sheet metal blank forforming theconnector receptacle of.FIGS. '1 ms;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that ofFIG. 5 but with aninserted tab shownin broken lines; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are respectively a side elevation and a perspective viewfrom above looking from the front of a modified connector tabreceptacle, part ofthe receptacle of 'FIG. 9 being cut away.

The electrical conductor receptacle. of- FIG. 1 issecured to aninsulated conductor wire 1 having awire core 2 adjacent a crimpingsection comprising a wire crimp ferrule 3 and insulation support ferrule4. The insulation support ferrule. 4 is closed about the insulation andthe wire crimp ferrule 3 about a stripped end of the core 2 of the wire,the ferrules 3. and 4 being integrally formed with a receptacle portionSfrom a flat sheet metal blank shown in FIG;6. The receptacle portion 5is of channel cross section as seen in FIG-4, with a base 6. and uprightsides 7 which converge towardsthe rear-mend of the receptacle adjacentthe wire crimpingt ferrule 3, as-seen in FIGS. 1 andS. The sides 7 areformed'with .elongateapertures defining longitudinal slots 8.:adjacentthe .base 6swhich is of generally triangular form in plan view,.asseen-in FlGS. 5 to 7. Portions of the sides 7 on the sides of slots 8remote from the base 6 are arcuately curved, as seen in plan view inFIGS. 5 and 7, in convex manner towards each other. Rearparts-9 of thesides 7 extend in generally parallel manner towards the wire crimpferrule 3 and side portions 10 forwards of slots 8 also extend ingenerallyparallel manner to define a parallelsided entrance to thereceptacle portion 5.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 6, corners of the slots 8 are radiused inconcave fashion and the comers l1 remote from the base 6 are arcuatelyrecessed awayfrom the base. Otherwise the slots 8 are ofgenerally-parallelogram form, as seen in FIG. 6, but suitably with sidesof the slots 8 being remote from the base 6 converging at a slightlygreater rate than the sides of the slots 8 adjacent the base 6, parts ofthe sides 7 extending longitudinally of and bordering the slots 8 ofsubstantially uniform width, as seen in FIG. 6, over the length betweenrecessed corners 11.

The ferrules 3 and 4 are, as seen in FIG. 4, of generally U- shapebefore crimping to the conductor wire, as seen in FIG. I. The insulationsupport ferrule 4 has a pair of cars of greater height and span than theears of the wire crimp ferrule 3. The ferrules 3 and 4 are spaced by ashort U or channel section of height less than that of the ferruleportions 3 and 4, and the ears of the ferrule 3 are of greater heightthan the sides 7 of the receptacle, as seen in FIG. 3. The ferrule 3 isspaced longitudinally from the sides 7 of the receptacle by a shorttransition section of U or channel form of height less than that of thesides 7 and the connector receptacle is thus formed with a generallychannel form throughout its length.

As shown in FIG. 6, the flat sheet metal blank from which the connectorreceptacle is formed has a maximum dimension widthwise of the connectorreceptacle, i.e., transverse to the direction of wire lay in ferrules 3and 4 and of tab insertion, at the ears of the insulation supportferrule 4, and thus the connector receptacle may be stamped from sheetmetal strip, having a minimum width equal to the developed width of theinsulation support ferrule 4. An aperture 12 is stamped in the intendedbase of the ferrule to serve as a pilot hole for feeding and indexing ofthe strip of metal from which the terminals are formed, and further forfeeding the terminals in strip form. As seen in FIG. 6, the blank hasaligned carrier portions 13, 14 which serve to join, and to space apart,successive connector receptacles in a strip of receptacles formed from acontinuous strip of metal. The carrier strip portions 13 and 14 aresheared away when individual connectors are cut from the strip andcrimped to conductor wires, as is normal practice.

The flat blank of FIG. 6 is suitably formed into the connectorreceptacles of FIGS. 1 to by suitable press operations in a progressivedie which serves to fold up the channel sides 7 and to form the base 6of the receptacle in the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thecentral portion 15 of the base 6 at the forward end between thedivergent ends of the sides 7 is elevated by bending portion 16 of theblank at forward ends of slots 8 in arcuately convex upward fashion. Inaddition, the central portion 15 of elevated base 6 is arcuately bowedconvexly upwards transversely of the receptacle, at a large radius ofcurvature, as seen in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 3, the elevated base 6adjacent and forwardly of the rear ends of slots 8 is bent downwards at17 at a rearward inclination and then rearwards between rear parts 9 ofthe sides 7 to define a transverse step 17. The base extends rearwardlyfrom the step 17 into the base of the U-shaped ferrule portions 3 and 4.The transverse bowing of the forward part 15 of the base 6 extendslongitudinally rearwards up to the step 17. The press-forming operationdetermines the spacing 18, as seen in FIG. 3, between the elevated base6 and opposed sides of slots 8, which gap is of importance in helping toprovide adequate contact pressure on an inserted tab. The base 6 isformed centrally of its width and rearwards of the side portions 10 witha dimple 19 protruding upwards between the sides 7, but of small size inrelation to the gap 18. The dimple 19 is arranged to engage acomplementary recess in a mating tab in well-known manner.

In use, as shown in FIG. 7, a tab 20 is inserted between the forwardside portions 10, which serve to ensure appropriate orientation of thereceptacle portion 5 on the tab 20, and to guide the tab 20 into theslots8. The leading end of the tab first enters at the forward ends ofthe slots at recesses 11 which facilitate tab entry by presenting aninitial gap of greater height than the gap 16. Further insertion of thetab into narrower parts of the slots 8 is facilitated by a smoothreversal of curvature 21 at the rear of forward recesses 11 as theymerge into upper sides of the slots 8. As the tab is pushed further intothe narrower gap 18, the receptacle is resiliently strained to increasethe gap 18 to accommodate the tab thickness. The receptacle base 6 tendsto flatten against the underside of the tab 20 and urges the tab 20upwardly against the opposed sides of slots 8.

On full insertion of the leading end of the tab 20, the rear ends of theslots 8 act as a stop and also assist in stabilizing the receptacle 5against relative tilting in the plane of the tab.

In the modified connector tab receptacle of FIGS. 8 and 9, in which likereference numerals are used in relation to similar parts to those of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-7, the base 6 of the receptacle is stiffened atits rear end in the region of the step 17 by a longitudinal indentation23. The indentation 23 is of generally triangular form, as seen fromabove in FIG. 9, and points towards the forward end of the receptacle.Sides of the triangular indent diverge rearwardly between the rear parts9 of sides 7, and the indentation extends forwardly and rearwardly ofthe step 17, as seen in FIG. 8. The indentation increases in depthrearwardly and projects downwards from the base 6.

The side parts 10, forwards of the slots 8, are formed at their forwardends with ears 24, pushed inwards to extend normally of the side parts10 towards each other above the side portions 16 of the forward end ofthe base 6. The lower sides 25 of the cars 24 are spaced above the base6 by a distance slightly greater than the gap 18 between the base andthe upper sides of slots 8. The cars 24 define an entrance sectionhelping to guide a complementary tab, such as 20 of FIG. 7, more easilyinto the slots 8 by ensuring that it is inserted into the receptacle incontiguous relation to the base 6.

What is claimed is:

1. A tab receptacle formed from a sheet metal blank comprising areceptacle portion of generally channel shaped cross section having abase and a pair of sides, in which the sides converge longitudinally ofthe channel, each side being formed with a contact arm and with anelongate aperture adjacent the base to fine a slot closed at its endsand extending longitudinally through part of the length of the sides,the slots separating the contact arms from the base, and the contactarms being formed generally normal to the base, so that a tab may beinserted between the divergent ends of the sides to enter the slotsbetween the base and an edge of the contact arms.

2. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which portions of thesides at the divergent ends extend in parallel manner to define anentrance section for the tab.

3. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the slots extendlaterally into the base.

4. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the slots are ofgenerally parallelogram form and sides of the slots remote from the baseconverge at a small inclination towards respective sides of the slotsadjacent the base.

5. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the base is bowedtransversely of the receptacle upwardly between the sides.

6. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the convergent endof the receptacle is integrally formed with a wireconnecting section ofU-form.

7. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which portions of thesides at the divergent ends are formed with ears turned in to projecttowards each other over side portions of the base, so that a tab may beinserted between the ears and the base for subsequent penetration intothe slots.

8. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the contact armsoverlap the base intermediate the ends of the slots.

9. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 8, in which the contact anns areconvexly curved towards each other.

10. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 9, in which the contact armsare curved over the length of the slots, and parts of the contact annsforwards and rearwards of the slots extend in generally straightparallel manner.

11. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 8, in which the slots areenlarged adjacent the divergent end of the receptacle.

12. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 11, in which ends of the slotsadjacent the divergent and convergent ends of the ing base portionintegral with the sides of the receptacle.

15. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the base of thereceptacle adjacent the rear ends of the slots is formed with adownwardly projecting stiffening indentation extending longitudinally.

16. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 15, in which the indentation isof generally triangular form in the surface of the base, points towardsthe front of the receptacle and increases in depth rearwardly.

* r a: a a

*gggggq TED sums PATENT @FFEEE @R'NFEQATE WE @MWE CWN Patent No- 3 622 136 Dated Januarv 4 1979 Inventor-(S) WLADIMIRO TEAGNO ET AL It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1, line 36, column 4, "fine" should be define Signed and sealedthis 2nd day of May 1972.,

(SEAL) Attest:

V ROBERT GOTTSGHALK EDWARD MmLETcHm, 5R0

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer AMP 2884

1. A tab receptacle formed from a sheet metal blank comprising areceptacle portion of generally channel shaped cross section having abase and a pair of sides, in which the sides converge longitudinally ofthe channel, each side being formed with a contact arm and with anelongate aperture adjacent the base to define a slot closed at its endsand extending longitudinally through part of the length of the sides,the slots separating the contact arms from the base, and the contactarms being formed generally normal to the base, so that a tab may beinserted between the divergent ends of the sides to enter the slotsbetween the base and an edge of the contact arms.
 2. A tab receptacle asclaimed in claim 1, in whiCh portions of the sides at the divergent endsextend in parallel manner to define an entrance section for the tab. 3.A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which the slots extendlaterally into the base.
 4. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, inwhich the slots are of generally parallelogram form and sides of theslots remote from the base converge at a small inclination towardsrespective sides of the slots adjacent the base.
 5. A tab receptacle asclaimed in claim 1, in which the base is bowed transversely of thereceptacle upwardly between the sides.
 6. A tab receptacle as claimed inclaim 1, in which the convergent end of the receptacle is integrallyformed with a wire-connecting section of U-form.
 7. A tab receptacle asclaimed in claim 1, in which portions of the sides at the divergent endsare formed with ears turned in to project towards each other over sideportions of the base, so that a tab may be inserted between the ears andthe base for subsequent penetration into the slots.
 8. A tab receptacleas claimed in claim 1, in which the contact arms overlap the baseintermediate the ends of the slots.
 9. A tab receptacle as claimed inclaim 8, in which the contact arms are convexly curved towards eachother.
 10. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 9, in which the contactarms are curved over the length of the slots, and parts of the contactarms forwards and rearwards of the slots extend in generally straightparallel manner.
 11. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 8, in whichthe slots are enlarged adjacent the divergent end of the receptacle. 12.A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 11, in which ends of the slotsadjacent the divergent and convergent ends of the receptacle are formedwith arcuate concavities extending away from the base.
 13. A tabreceptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which a longitudinally extendingportion of the base of the receptacle is elevated between the sides inrelation to portions of the base adjacent the sides.
 14. A tabreceptacle as claimed in claim 13, in which the elevated base portionterminates forwardly of ends of the slots adjacent the convergent end ofthe receptacle in a step inclined rearwardly and downwardly to arearwardly extending base portion integral with the sides of thereceptacle.
 15. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which thebase of the receptacle adjacent the rear ends of the slots is formedwith a downwardly projecting stiffening indentation extendinglongitudinally.
 16. A tab receptacle as claimed in claim 15, in whichthe indentation is of generally triangular form in the surface of thebase, points towards the front of the receptacle and increases in depthrearwardly.